twsanborn - 2010 Maurya and Gupta 3

Government

Candra Gupta, was the self proclaimed King of the Maurya Empire starting in ca. 324, created a very strict and organized bureaucracy

The Maurya Empire was extrememly organized, it consisted of four general regions controlled by one viceroy. Those four regions were broken down into smaller provinces that were ruled by a governor and then they were broken down even further into districts and lastly villages. Each domain reported to their superiors who then reported to Candra Gupta.
Candra Gupta steadily increased the area of the Maurya Empire, including the people who were in the area too, and therefore increased the army so that they would still be able to have strict order everywhere.
When Gupta's son, Asoka, took over the throne he believed in a government controlled by religion and not by the army so he stopped the expanses into the surrounding area that his father and grandfather had been trying to achieve.
Asoka insured that his empire would be ruled by the laws of dharma by appointing special officers to be dhamma mahamatras, who went around and helped women, the poor, and religious groups.

candra_gupta.jpg

Religion-

Asoka, Candra Gupta's son, became the King after Candra Gupta died. Originally Asoka didn't focus on religion at all, he was more concerned with war and winning new land. However, after an extremely bloody war he turned to the Buddhist religion to help him govern. This helped Buddhism become more well known because at the time there was only a small amount of people who were Buddhists.
Asoka did not only believe strongly in the Buddhist religion but he also tried to spread it to all the surrounding areas.
Asoka promoted the concept of ruling with justice and dharma, moral law and righteousness.
He believed that if everyone was spiritually connected that was a stronger government than an army and force.
Although it sounds like the empire would crumble will most of the focus being on religion and not war, the Maurya Empire's economy flourished with everyone's newfound spiritual connection.

Sign For Dharma

King Asoka

Buddha

written by:Alexa Grasfield

Economy:

The Mauryan Empire used currency, weights, and measurements to buy and trade things.
When Candra Gupta II ruled the Gupta Empire he opened up the western coast where he promoted over seas trading.
The manufacture of fabrics flourished because of this newfound trade and they helped the economy become stronger in the Gupta Empire.

Coin of Candra Gupta I

Art:

In the Gupta Empire when Candra Gupta II ruled arts were extremely important. Gupta gathered poets, artists, scientists, and musicians to be the "jewels" of his court.
When Gupta II ruled he helped the development of architecture, painting, writing, and sculpting. it helped define the golden age of the Gupta Empire because the arts were so prominent.
Poetry competitions were extrememly popular and very competitive.
During these poetry competitions two of the most famous ancient oral poems were created, the Ramayana and the Mahabharata.

Scene from Ramayana

Siddhartha Gautama

Written by: Alexa Grasfield

Technology:

The Mauryans were known to ride into war on foot, horses, and elephants.
During war, Guptans relied mainly on archers, the bow and arrow were the dominant weapons in their army.
Bows were composed of metal or bamboo, and the arrows were long bamboo canes with a metal head. Bowmen also used fire arrows frequently.
During war, iron shafts were used against armored hippos and elephants
India had a reputation for it's steel weapons. Men were armed with tools such as shields, javelins, and longswords during battle.
The Guptans also had knowledge of using catapults and other advanced war machines.

SOCIETY

The new Mauryan Empire led by Candra Gupta and Prime Minister Kautilya was very organized. It was made up of four general regions headed by one viceroy, broken into smaller provinces led by a governor and then into districts and then into villages.
Gupta had a strict set of social classes;
Brahmans was the highest of the social classes and was made up of the priests, spiritual and intellectual leaders of Hindu society.
Kshatriyas were the second highest class and was made up of the rulers and warriors who protected and promoted the material well-being of society.
Vaishya was the third highest class and consisted of farmers, merchants, and others who contributed to the economy.
Last was the Sudra, the last in the class system and made up of the workers and servants who supply the labor for the upper three classes.
Overtime a fifth class system emerged. They were called the untouchables, and were excluded from many rituals in India and were banned from the public. The untouchables had to identify themselves so that people in higher classes could avoid being near them.

Written By: Johanna Lovett

Gupta Empire Map

Chandragupta Maurya Empire Map

Summary:

The Maurya Empire ruled vast areas of India from 321 to 185 b.c.e and had originated from the kingdom of Magadha in the indo-gangic plains. The capital of the empire was Pataliputra, much of the northwestern territorty of the Mauryan Empire was conquered after Alexander the Great. The empire stretched as far as the Himalayas and Pakistan and Afganistan, the trans-indo region was conquered from the Macedonians. Chanakya and Chandragupta Maurya were two different people who ruled the empire and had meet with Alexander the Great. Warriors were gathered from the oppresive rule of king Dhana to fight for the Mauryans to conquer Paliputra.

Dates:
Maurya Empire: ca. 320-185 B.C.

Gupta Empire: fourth-sixth centuries A.D.

Written By: Aidan Borkan